Locker wardrobe



Allg. 14, 1956 J. B. ocoNNoR LOCKER WARDROBE 3 shee'ts-sheet 1 Original Filed .May 2l, 1945 Aug. 14, 1956 original Filed May 21, 1945 J. B. OCONNOR LOCKER WARDROBE 5 shee'ts-sheet 2 Aug. 14, 1956 ,1 B. ocoNNOR LocKER WARDROBE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed May 2l, 1945 ,Il o o OI ,in l

OOOIOO 1| H Z OOO M136 ,14o il Il lOO/O M M y@ United States yPatent Olice 2,758,902 Patented Aug. 14, 1956 LG'CKER WARDROBE John B. Connor, Aurora, Ill., assignor to Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Origin application May 21, 1945, Serial No. 594,989, now 'Patent No. 2,655,424, dated October 15, 1953. Divided and this application May 3, 1951, Serial No. 224,428

Claims. (Cl. S12-265) This invention relates to lockers, and more particularly to partitions for lockers and other compartments.

lt is an important object of the present invention to provide an improved partition for a sheet metal locker and for other compartments, and more specifically it is an object of the invention to provide a detachable partition of sheet metal construction for lockers which is sturdy and light weight in construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a locker 'partition which can be easily and readily assembled and positioned within sheet metal lockers.

Yet another object resides in providing a sheet metal Vpartition for a locker or container with oppositely facing spaced apart semi-looped or arcuate portions adapted .to receive therethrough supporting pins engaging opposite wail portions for aiding in holding the partition in position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be better understood from the following speciiication when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals have been used to indicate like parts throughout:

Fig. i is a front perspective View of the improved locker wardrobe, one of the hinged doors being shown in dotted lines as raised to open position;

Fig. 2 is a right side view of the locker wardrobe shown in Fig. l with certain parts of the frame broken away, to show a coat in position and a chain passing through the sleeve of the coat;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the base taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a detail plan section taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the partition members.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the invention comprises a preferably sheet metal bottom 2 having depending flanges on all sides, the depending flange 4 being shown in Fig. 1. To the ends of this bottom 2 are secured two lower corner brackets 6 and 8 of the construction shown in Fig. l, each of which comprises an outside vertical wall 10 having an upper edge as at 12 doubled upon itself for strength and ornamentation, and having a lower inwardly extending horizontal flange 14 which underlies the lower edge 16 of the basal flanges, such as 4. These two lower brackets are cut away in curvilinear fashion for ornamental purposes. The base 2 is bolted to these lower corner brackets by means of the bolts 2i), as shown in Fig. 3. In addition, the base 2 is provided with a centrally disposed reinforcing element of sheet metal, generally in the form of a pan 22 having upper longitudinally extending opposed ilanges 24 and 26 which are welded to the underside of the base 2, as shown. The two ends of the lower portion 28 of the pan are provided with two downwardly extending flanges 30 which are spot welded as at 32 to the end basal flanges 5 of the base. In addition there are four upright angle posts 34, the bottoms of which, as shown at 36, rest upon the base 2. The lower corner brackets are bolted to these corner posts as shown at 21 for rigidly holding the corner posts in upright position. The corner posts extend upwardly and terminate at 37, as shown in Figs. 4 and 15.

The locker unit is supported upon the four posts 34 and held in position thereon by means of two upper corner bracket members 86 and 83, shown in perspective. The locker unit itself comprises a rectangular box-like structure 40 having opposed vertical end walls 56 and 58, a top wall 42, and a base 44. Like the bottom portion of this locker wardrobe, the upper locker part thereof is formed preferably of sheet metal. As shown best in Fig. 4, it includes a sheet metal back panel 45 which has a lower flange 46. This back panel has its top edge vertically underlying a rear depending flange 4S of the sheet metal top 42, the same being bolted together as at 52. The front edge of this sheet metal top is provided with a front vertically depending flange 54. Each of the two sheet metal ends 56 and 58 has an inturned ange 60, see Fig. 5, at the top and an inturned ange 62 along its rear side. The top horizontal anges 60 of the ends overlie the top wall 42 and the rear vertical anges 62 of the ends overlie the ends of the back wall 45. The flanges 62 and back are secured together by bolts 63, see Fig. 6, and the flanges 60 of the ends are secured by bolts 65 at the corners which also secure the flange 46 of the top 42, see Fig. 5.

The front 56 is a rectangular frame structure preferably' formed as a single piece having a series of spaced apart relatively large rectangular door openings therein, as shown in Figs. l and 15. This front 56 has a rearwardly extending flange 64 along its top edge, see Figs. 4 and 15, another rearwardly extending flange 66 along its bottom edge and similar anges 68 at each end, see Fig. 6. Each of the spaced apart rectangular door openings 70 is also provided with a series of rearwardly extending flanges consisting of horizontal flanges 72 at the top and bottom, see Figs. 4 and 15, and opposed spaced vertical flanges 74, see Figs. 6 and l5.

A series of bolts 90, see Fig. 4, located at spaced intervals along the entire length of the top flange 64 secure together this flange 64 and the top 42 and, as shown in Fig. 4, the depending inner flange 54 on top 42 extends adjacent the outer front wall 5i) between the flange 64 and the flanges 72 on the top row of openings 70. The end anges 68 overlie the side walls 56 and 58, see Fig. 6, and the front ends of each of the side walls 56 and 58 have inwardly extending portions 82 and terminate in forwardly extending portions 84. The portions 82 and 84 on the wall 56 thus extend in the space between the flange 68 and the adjacent spaced flanges 74 and those on wall 58 extend between the other Bange 68 and the adjacent anges 74 thus maintaining the forward ends of walls 56 and 58 in their proper position. The leaf 92 of a hinge 80, see Fig. 4, is bolted as at 94 to the flange '72 at the top of each opening 7u and each opening '70 is provided with a door 98 which is hingedly connected to the leaf 92 by a hinge pin 96. Each door 98 has inwardly extending strengthening flanges 99 on both Vertical edges and carries a key-operated lock 100 and has a lower lip i0?. which overlies the front wall 50 below the door.

An intermediate horizontal shelf or partition 116 provides a floor for all the row of lockers. This partition 116 has a depending flange or skirt 118 all around. At the front of the horizontal partition 116 a series of pockets 120 are formed, one for each door, to accommodate the projecting tongue 124 of the bolt on the lock 100 of the door 98 thereabove, the bolt extending through a slot or keeper in the flange 7.2 at the bottom of each opening '70.

.to other parts, if desired. Bottom 'cna level with the anges'f74 below the top row of'openings 70and that a depression 86 -is provided'at the front lof shelf 116 `to accommodate lthe flanges 74 Where the shelf .11G-extends thereunder. The rear depending yange 118 .of shelf 116 is bolted as 'at V130 to the .rear panel v45. The shelf 1.16 may also be bolted at other places vto rigid fixed portions of the construction, if desired. 1n

the construction shown, however, the Vshelf 116 is supported at the front by dependingange 118 which extends adjacent the .front Wall 50 in position so that its Ilower edge mayengagethe flanges 72at the top of the lower series of door openings 70.

The .bottom 44 of the loc-ker is substantially identical in structure with shelf 116 except as hereinafter noted. It Vhas a flange 134, see Figs. 4 and '5, similar to ange 118 and is secured `by bolts 136 to the rear panel 45 and 44 also has a series of pockets 120 for accommodat- 124 of the -bolts on the locks G of the bottom row of doors. The flange 134 has la .narrow portion 135 similar vto Vthe portion 122 and a shallow depression 137 which, like depression 86, is provided `to receive the bottom anges 72 'of the :lower row of door openings 70 and permit the main part of floor 44 toextend on a level with these 'flanges 72. Floor 44 is supported at the front by the depending flange 134 which extends adjacent the front wall 50 between the lower row Iof anges 72 and the bottom flange 66.

To better support the box-like structure '40 an ang-le iron frame 140, see Fig. 15, is provided which extends on all four sides of the locker structure under the iioor 44 and inside its depending ange 134. The rear vertical arm 138 of the vangle iron frame 140 is also secured by bolts 136 so that .the ange 134 is clamped between the arm 138 and the rear wall 45. The front vertical arm 142 of the angle iron frame 146 extends adjacent the inner face of the front portion of flange 134 and is relieved as at 144 at suitable intervals to receive the dished portions of door 44 where the pockets 126 are formed.

Within the box-like structure 40 the individual lockers in each row are separated by a series of vertical partitions 152 in the top row and 154 in the bottom row. The partitions 152 and 154 are of identical structure. Each partition has two vertical rows of slits 155, 156, 157, and 158 formed therein at the places indicated in Fig. 4. The material of the partitions along each row of slits is then bent laterally of the partition surfaces into a semi-circular shape with alternate portions extending on opposite sides of the partition. Thus, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, the material between slits 157 and 158 is bent out on one side of partition 152 to provide a semi-circular formation 160 and the material between slit 158 and the bottom of partition 152 and between slits 156 and 157 is bent out on the opposite side of partition 152 to provide the semicircular formations 162 and 164, respectively, and this is continued throughout the full length of each row of slits in each of the partitions 152 and 154. The semicircular formations 160, 162, 164 etc. are designed to receive a rod 166. The rods 166 are provided with broad heads 168 and extend down through perforations in the top 42 then through the semi-circular formations in partition 152, then through an opening in shelf 116 through the semi-circular formations in a lower partition 154 and, finally, through openings in the bottom 44 where they are threaded as at 1'70 to receive the nuts 172 for holding the partitions in position. In addition the partitions 152 and 154 themselves and their bolt receiving portions 168, 162 and 164,-help to rigidify the top 42, the shelf 116 and the bottom 44.

lEach of the partitions 152 and y154 has a flange '159, see Fig..6, on its rear .endanda tiangef161zon. its forward lpockets 126 similar to the .ing the .projecting tongues 4 end. Each of .these .flanges Y159 .and 161` extends from the partition toward the end wall 58. The partitions 152 and 154 terminate short of the front wall 50 so that the flange 161 is spaced therefrom but extends between adjacent anges 78 and 76. lAvertically extending channel shaped member -163is welded to the ange 161, as at 165, with the arms of the channel extending toward the `front wall 50.and.aids in maintaining the forwardv ends'of partitions 152 and 154 .in 'their properposition.

As before stated, the entire pigeonhole-like top Ilocker 48 is mounted upon the cornerposts 34 by'means ofthe upper corner brackets 86 and'88. To this end each-one of these upper side brackets isa reversely ldisposed duplicate of the bottom brackets 6 and 8 and comprisesa vertical side wall portion 174, an upper horizontal flange 176 extending in around the'three sides of the top and arcuate side faces 180, see Figs. 7 and 15. The lower edge of the side -wall 174 isdoubled upon litself as at 178 along its lower edge foristrength and ornamentation. The hori- 'zontal anges `176 on the two corner=brackets `86 and 88 provide horizontalsurfaces'upon-which the box-like structure 40 sits. At1-the rear above-'the arcuatefaces 186 of vthe brackets v86 and 88, --the -anges 176 are secured by bolts =146 tothe angle ironframe 140 and to the flange 46 extending in from ythe -rear wall 45. Bolts 148 secure anges 176 tothe yfiange66 and 'to the angle iron frame F above the arcuate faces 180 lof brackets 86 and 88 at the front. Lastly, a -ser-ies yo'fbolts A'15() fasten angle'iron frame 140 andinturned.flanges'149-on the lower edges of ends '56 and .'58 to flanges 176. The'housing 40 is thus Ywell secured to the corner'brackets 86 and 88 but is at the same time removable.

Brackets 86 andlilSare -in-turn rigidlymounted on the posts 34 as best seen in Figs. 4, 5 and 7. This mounting includes lfour sheet .substantially ZL-shaped metal plates 183 one of which, shown in lFig. 7, is welded, as at 186 and 188,`to the inner faces -of the Avertical end walls l174 which are aligned with andare below the end walls 56 of the cabinets and to the arcuate Wall of each of the upper corner brackets 86 and 88at each-ofthe four corners ofthe structure. Each of 'these inner pocket forming plates 183 extends slightly -less than the Efull height of corner vbrackets 86 andfSSand is=shaped as shown in Fig. 7 lto form an L-shaped vertical `pocket y slightly larger than-the cross sectionlof the verticalfcorner posts 34 and in which the tops of the corner posts arereceived firmly to mount the upperfcorner bracketsf86 andlSS -and-endsheets 174 integral therewith on the corner posts 34. Theposts 34 do not-extend-up through the full`heig'ht of pockets 190, however, to engage `flanges l176. Instead, ateach corner of thestructure a short distance above the vertical mid-point of :brackets y86 and 88, two lportions of the material of brackets 86 and 88 are cut at 181 and v182, respectively, .fromwalls `174 and E180 and bent down to horizontal position to form tangs 184 and 1785 which extend fthrough suitably llocated openings in .plates 183, which Openings are ijust ilarge enough -to receive these tangs. The loadl of structure f40is thus transmitted to the top .37 .of posts are engaged by the posts 34 `whenlthe 2latter are inserted in .pockets 190.

This Iinvention is a division of yapplicants prior application "entitled, Locker Wardrobe, Serial No. 594,980 filed TMay 2l, 1945, and now vissued into Patent No. 2,655,424dated October 15, 1953.

Obviously the invention is not vrlimited to the specific details of construction disclosed lherein but is capable of other modifications and changes without departing vfrom the'spirit and scope of the appended claims.

`:Having thus described .the:invention, lwhat is claimed as new .and desired i to be securediby 'Letters Patent is:

l. A box-like `sheet metal structure including front, back, sides,and a top'wall,.acentral `horizontal partition, and abottomwall, the frontiwall having openings, aseries of yertica'l partitions .dividing and ib'ra'cing :said box-like 34 through the tangs -183 and 4185 which` structure, said partitions being formed of sheet metal and including a succession of looped portions integral therewith and spaced between the ends thereof, said looped portions being arranged with alternate loops extending on opposite sides of said partitions, anges formed on said partitions along the sides thereof adjacent said front and back, said anges being disposed at substantially right angles to said partition and attached to said front and back, and rods passing through rigidified openings in the top, the horizontal partition, and the bottom, and through the openings divided by the oppositely extending loops, and means for retaining said rods in such position whereby to retain the vertical partitions in rigidiied position between said top, said metal horizontal partition and said bottom and means interconnecting the top, the front and back, the side walls, and said horizontal partition Wall.

2. A locker construction comprising a top wall, a bottom Wall spaced from said top wall, a rigidifying partition extending between and substantially perpendicular to said top Wall and said bottom wall, said partition having a succession of looped portions integral therewith between the ends thereof and arranged With alternate loops extending on opposite sides of said partition, anges formed on said partitions along the sides thereof adjacent said front and back, said anges being disposed at substantially right angles to said partition and attached to said front and back, and rods passing through openings in the top, through the openings provided by the oppositely extending loops of said partition, and through the bottom to retain said top wall and bottom Wall and partition in assembled relationship.

3. A sheet metal locker having a front formed with vertical and horizontal tiers of door openings, a door hingedly mounted .in each door opening, the metal at the periphery of and between each opening being anged normally rearwardly to provide vertically extending spaced rigidifying anges, said doors closing against the metal adjacent said anges, a pair of ends, a bottom and a back, and a top, means interconnecting said front, the ends and said back and said bottom to provide a boxlike sheet metal structure, a shelf located between and spaced from said top and bottom, a vertically extending sheet metal partition having anges at each vertical edge, said anges being bent at right angles, the forward flange being axed to the front of the locker and the opposite vertical ange of the partition being affixed to the back of the locker, said partition intermediate its vertical ends being formed with a succession of aligned vertically extending grooves, which are somewhat semi-cylindrical in character and alternately reversed in direction to form loops, and an elongated pin passing through the loops, the shelf, the top and the bottom and constructed and arranged to hold the partition rigidly in position.

4. A sheet metal locker comprising a substantially rectangular front made of a unitary piece of sheet metal, a first set of anges formed on each side and the top and bottom of said front, said first set of flanges extending substantially at right angles and rearwardly with respect to said front, said front having a plurality of rectangular apertures formed therein, the sides of said apertures being substantially parallel to the sides of `said front, a second set of flanges formed on said front on the edges thereof defining said apertures and extending rearwardly in the same direction as said rst set of flanges, a bottom and a top and two sides attached to said first set of flanges, a back attached to said top, bottom and sides to form therewith a box-like metal structure, a door shaped t0 close each of the apertures in said front, said door on .its upper edge having formed thereon pivotal hinge members, said pivotal hinge members being attached to the top horizontal flange of said second set of flanges, the lowermost flange of said second set of iianges having an aperture therein, and a keeper member mounted adjacent the bottom of said door and adapted to extend through the aperture in said bottom iiange to maintain said door in closed position.

5. A sheet metal locker as set forth in claim 4, wherein an inner bottom is provided, said inner bottom having tianges formed on the edges thereof and resting on the bottom inturned flange of said first Set of anges to support said inner bottom ,in substantially the same plane as the bottom ange of said second set of anges.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 810,544 Krag Jan. 23, 1906 936,696 Benson Oct. 12, 1909 1,747,390 Robb Feb. 18, 1930 2,050,617 Litner Aug. 11, 1936 2,202,427 Polen May 28, 1940 2,526,335 Deichert Oct. 17, 1950 2,667,401 Knuth Ian. 26, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 29,296 France Mar. 17, 1925 

